ZIP code
56270
in Morton, MinnesotaPopulation 1,076
44.36/ 100
Ranked #23,058 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #834 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 3.7%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Energy-cost burden
8.2%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
33.1 mi
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
26.8%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.2 pCi/L
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
37.2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.84 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
33.1%
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
11.2%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
14.1%
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS76thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
18.6%
in the top 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both modeled radon and modeled groundwater arsenic.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
Morton, Minnesota (ZIP 56270) ranks in the bottom 28% nationally (23,058th) and the bottom 3.7% of Minnesota (834th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: dental providers resides in the top 10.0% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 13.2% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol sits in the bottom 9.8% nationally. Working the other way, modeled energy burden resides in the top 0.6% nationally, distance to a community health center stands in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled arsenic sits in the top 4.0% nationally. Modeled radon resides in the top 8.2% nationally, and fine-particle stands in the top 12.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation resides in the top 17% nationally.
For context, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 55310, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.2%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 25%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
55310
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.85
Closest healthier
55333
Minnesotashares a border
Score 44.77
Similar health profile
56437
Minnesota87% similar profile
Score 45.19
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 23.7% | 21.7–25.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.4% | 29.7–35.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.7% | 7.2–8.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.6–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 22.1–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.6–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.1% | 30.4–35.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 34.5–44.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.4% | 10.7–14.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.4% | 8.0–11.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.8% | 73.4–77.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.4% | 70.5–76.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.4% | 80.7–84.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.2% | 63.6–70.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.0% | 57.3–62.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.9% | 67.1–78.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.9–20.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.4% | 17.3–21.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 23.9–30.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 27.7–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.8% | 18.8–23.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.6–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 13.0–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.7–17.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.3% | 30.2–36.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.0% | 22.1–28.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.6% | 16.1–21.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.0–15.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–15.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.5% | 30.7–38.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–10.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 53.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 20.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 40.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $61,944 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $104,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $900 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $925 ($650–$1,588) n=759 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.6 yr ± 0.90 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 81.1 yr (78.3–84.8) n=864 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.90 years of 79.6, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured